clouded sulphur | skymeadows

clouded sulphur (Colias philodice)

CONFIRMATION STATUS: Confirmed.

FAMILY: Whites and Sulphurs (Pieridae)
SUBFAMILY: Sulphurs (Coliadinae)

IDENTIFICATION: Upper surface of male wings bright, clear yellow with
solid black edging; lower side of forewing with some dark submarginal
spots; hindwing with silver cell spot rimmed with orange-pink, usually
doubled. Female has 2 forms: yellow form with uneven black edging
enclosing yellow spots, and a white form which is greenish-white rather
than yellow. Spring and fall forms are smaller and less conspicuously
marked.

LIFE HISTORY: Eggs laid singly on host; caterpillars eat leaves.
Hibernation is by third-stage caterpillars.

FLIGHT: Three flights in the north from May-October, 4-5 in the south
from March-November.

WING SPAN: 1 1/2 - 2 3/4 inches (3.8 - 7 cm).

CATERPILLAR HOSTS: Plants in the pea family (Fabaceae) including alfalfa
(Medicago sativa), white clover (Trifolium repens), and pea (Pisum sativum).

ADULT FOOD: Flower nectar of many plants.

HABITAT: Many different open areas including fields, lawns, alfalfa and
clover fields, road edges, meadows.

RANGE: Alaska south through central and southeast Canada, all of
conterminous United states except much of California, south Texas,
and most of Florida.

CONSERVATION: Not required.

NATURESERVE GLOBAL STATUS: G5 - Demonstrably secure globally,
though it may be quite rare in parts of its range, especially at the
periphery.

MANAGEMENT NEEDS: Not reported.

SKY MEADOWS OCCURRENCE:

Note: Due to seasonal conditions in this region, occurrence may vary from

year to year. The designation of occurrence may range over two or more

categories and may vary even during a single season.

Key to Checklist

A   Abundant: Easy to see very large numbers of individuals in appropriate habitat
      at proper time of year.
C   Common: Usually each to see good numbers of individuals in appropriate habitat
      at proper time of year.
U   Uncommon: Sometimes found in appropriate habitat and proper time of year,
      usually in low numbers.
O   Occasional: Found in appropriate habitat perhaps only a few times a year, usually
      in low numbers.
R   Rare: Small chance of being found, even in appropriate habitat at proper time of
      year. There are few individuals and may not be present every year.
X   Extirpated: Formerly present, no longer occurs in Sky Meadows Park.